Energy transition
Germans believe energy transition is necessary, but there is growing criticism of its implementation
A representative survey commissioned by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research in cooperation with the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (Fraunhofer IAO) looked at Germans’ attitudes toward the energy transition and noticed a remarkable change in perception toward the energy transition.
The energy transition is one of society’s biggest challenges – and of special concern to Germans as they are gearing up to vote in the federal election on February 23, 2025. This is shown by a representative survey commissioned by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and undertaken by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research in cooperation with the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. According to this survey, there is widespread support for the energy transition but at the same time growing dissatisfaction about how to get there. 60% of those polled believe that the energy transition is necessary but have their doubts about how it is currently implemented. Moreover, 63% want to be more strongly involved in energy transition decisions affecting their region. Both figures are important cornerstones of a future energy policy that aims at both economic prosperity and social cohesion.
Politics, business, science, and civil society need to work together to drive industry decarbonization and the transformation towards a sustainable and secure energy system. Only through collaboration can we bring about a successful and rapid transition from fossil energy sources, such as coal, gas and oil, to carbon-free renewables. Only then will we succeed in future-proofing society. Recognizing these challenges, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt promotes the collaboration and dialogue among leaders across borders and industries. As part of its focus area “Energy Transition and Climate Action,” the global networking foundation supports cross-sector initiatives and concrete solutions to help society take on this enormous task.
Dr. Heba Aguib, Member of the Board of the BMW Foundation, said: “The energy transition is a colossal challenge for society as a whole, for energy is a cross-cutting issue concerning industry, business, and citizens alike. We all depend on reliable and affordable energy.” The majority of the population continues to support the energy transition and sees climate protection as one the most important political challenges. In recent years, however, the issue has been partly displaced by a series of different crises. To find out German’s current attitudes toward the energy transition, the BMW Foundation commissioned a representative survey of the German population from the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed together with the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. The answers and results will be incorporated into the roadmap for continuing the "Werkstatt des Wandels" project. This project was initiated in cooperation with the Office of the Federal President, the BMW Foundation, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, and the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. The “Werkstatt des Wandels” series was launched in 2023 to enhance the collaboration, visibility, and acceptance of transformation projects. Showcasing successful examples, it aims to discuss how innovations can have a positive impact on the lives and work of the local population at industrial sites. The survey is based on a total of 1,015 interviews with a representative cross-section of the population aged 16 and older. The face-to-face interviews were conducted from January 7 to 18, 2025. “Two thirds of the population expect to be more strongly involved in regional decision-making on the energy transition. By making the processes more participatory – that is, by discussing the further development and the related opportunities and risks early on – we can increase planning security for everybody involved and speed up the regional implementation of the energy transition,” said Prof. Dr. Martina Schraudner from the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. One of the survey’s key insights is that the initial enthusiasm is increasingly giving way to growing skepticism. While a majority of the German population basically supports the move away from fossil energies and nuclear power, they take a more and more critical view of its implementation. Concerns about climate change have correspondingly declined, especially as the latest crises have moved other priorities to the top of the list. For many citizens today, the main issues are economic insecurity and energy supply. Rising energy bills and concerns about Germany’s industrial competitiveness have led to a reassessment of climate protection measures: Where the focus used to be on opportunities, concerns about risks and costs have now moved to the forefront. Dr. Heba Aguib added: “We see the energy transition as crucial to driving societal development and upholding democracy. But we need to listen carefully, take seriously the fears and hopes, and involve all stakeholders and constituencies in the transformation process. Therefore, we commissioned this survey to make visible the changes in perception toward the energy transition. We must not only adjust the speed but also cross-society collaboration.” For more information on the current survey, please contact: BMW Foundation: communication@bmw-foundation.org
Fraunhofer IAO: carolin.schwarze@iao.fraunhofer.de
Dr. Heba Aguib, Member of the Board of the BMW Foundation, said: “The energy transition is a colossal challenge for society as a whole, for energy is a cross-cutting issue concerning industry, business, and citizens alike. We all depend on reliable and affordable energy.” The majority of the population continues to support the energy transition and sees climate protection as one the most important political challenges. In recent years, however, the issue has been partly displaced by a series of different crises. To find out German’s current attitudes toward the energy transition, the BMW Foundation commissioned a representative survey of the German population from the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed together with the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. The answers and results will be incorporated into the roadmap for continuing the "Werkstatt des Wandels" project. This project was initiated in cooperation with the Office of the Federal President, the BMW Foundation, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, and the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. The “Werkstatt des Wandels” series was launched in 2023 to enhance the collaboration, visibility, and acceptance of transformation projects. Showcasing successful examples, it aims to discuss how innovations can have a positive impact on the lives and work of the local population at industrial sites. The survey is based on a total of 1,015 interviews with a representative cross-section of the population aged 16 and older. The face-to-face interviews were conducted from January 7 to 18, 2025. “Two thirds of the population expect to be more strongly involved in regional decision-making on the energy transition. By making the processes more participatory – that is, by discussing the further development and the related opportunities and risks early on – we can increase planning security for everybody involved and speed up the regional implementation of the energy transition,” said Prof. Dr. Martina Schraudner from the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at Fraunhofer IAO. One of the survey’s key insights is that the initial enthusiasm is increasingly giving way to growing skepticism. While a majority of the German population basically supports the move away from fossil energies and nuclear power, they take a more and more critical view of its implementation. Concerns about climate change have correspondingly declined, especially as the latest crises have moved other priorities to the top of the list. For many citizens today, the main issues are economic insecurity and energy supply. Rising energy bills and concerns about Germany’s industrial competitiveness have led to a reassessment of climate protection measures: Where the focus used to be on opportunities, concerns about risks and costs have now moved to the forefront. Dr. Heba Aguib added: “We see the energy transition as crucial to driving societal development and upholding democracy. But we need to listen carefully, take seriously the fears and hopes, and involve all stakeholders and constituencies in the transformation process. Therefore, we commissioned this survey to make visible the changes in perception toward the energy transition. We must not only adjust the speed but also cross-society collaboration.” For more information on the current survey, please contact: BMW Foundation: communication@bmw-foundation.org
Fraunhofer IAO: carolin.schwarze@iao.fraunhofer.de
BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt
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